Valente Nicoletta, Cocchio Silvia, Stefanati Armando, Baldovin Tatjana, Martinelli Domenico, Prato Rosa, Baldo Vincenzo, Gabutti Giovanni
Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64b, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via Loredan 18, 35100, Padua, Italy.
Aging Clin Exp Res. 2017 Aug;29(4):771-779. doi: 10.1007/s40520-017-0782-z. Epub 2017 Jun 12.
Herpes zoster (HZ) has a relevant impact on the population in terms of incidence and complications.
The aim of this study was to estimate the HZ-related hospitalization rates in Italy in the period 2001-2013, and to evaluate the trend of hospitalizations in the course of time pointing out any differences between regions that have or have not introduced universal childhood varicella immunization (UVI).
A retrospective analysis was conducted on hospital discharge records contained in the national database of the Ministry of Health for the period January 2001-December 2013. The comparison of hospitalization rates of "pilot" versus "not pilot" regions was performed taking into account as "pilot" regions the three that first introduced UVI (Sicily, Veneto, and Apulia). The average annual percentage change in hospitalization rates was used to highlight any significant change in time trends.
In the period 2001-2013, 93,808 HZ-related hospitalizations were registered altogether. Complicated HZ was diagnosed in 53.2% of cases; a relevant part (32.5%) of hospitalizations involved subjects with at least one co-morbidity. In the three Italian "pilot" regions, a greater decrease of HZ-related hospitalization rates occurred in comparison to other regions.
A good understanding of the epidemiology of HZ disease is required to assess the overall impact of the varicella immunization programs and to establish the most appropriate health strategies against HZ.
The data obtained confirm the epidemiological impact of HZ and its complications and the need of a preventive approach.
带状疱疹（HZ）在发病率和并发症方面对人群有显著影响。
本研究的目的是估计2001 - 2013年期间意大利与HZ相关的住院率，并评估住院率随时间的变化趋势，指出已实施或未实施普遍儿童水痘免疫接种（UVI）的地区之间的差异。
对2001年1月至2013年12月期间卫生部国家数据库中的医院出院记录进行回顾性分析。将最早引入UVI的三个地区（西西里岛、威尼托和普利亚）视为“试点”地区，对“试点”地区与“非试点”地区的住院率进行比较。使用住院率的年均百分比变化来突出时间趋势上的任何显著变化。
在2001 - 2013年期间，共登记了93,808例与HZ相关的住院病例。53.2%的病例被诊断为复杂性HZ；相当一部分（32.5%）的住院病例涉及至少有一种合并症的患者。在意大利的三个“试点”地区，与其他地区相比，HZ相关住院率的下降幅度更大。
需要充分了解HZ疾病的流行病学，以评估水痘免疫计划的总体影响，并制定最适当的抗HZ健康策略。
所获得的数据证实了HZ及其并发症的流行病学影响以及预防措施的必要性。
